UCC Sports Law Clinic

The Sports Law Clinic at the School of Law at University College Cork is a student led Clinic which aims to give assistance to those involved in Sport when dealing with legal, regulatory and rules based matters. The Clinic operates under the direct supervision of the Directors Dr Aisling Parkes and Dr Seán Ó Conaill of the School of Law. The work of the Clinic is also supported by an experienced advisory board of experts from various sporting and professional backgrounds.

The Sports Law Clinic was established on foot of a successful New Foundations grant from the Irish Research Council in 2015.

The Sports Law Clinic will not only provide a much-needed pro bono service to the local community but it will also provide UCC Law students with unprecedented skills by working directly with Sports clients.

The Clinic will take the form of a clinic module from the academic year 2016/17 which is essentially Sports law in action. It is based on an active learning model and will provide students with a unique opportunity to work on sports-related cases as well as policy activities, which will enhance their knowledge of sports law in practice. Students will develop specialised skills of sports-related legal research, writing and strategy. Students will work on specific sports-related legal issues such as doping, governance, and disciplinary proceedings in a wide range of sports including rugby, athletics, soccer, GAA and boxing. In particular, this module will address legal standards and professional ethics and will help raise awareness about minimum standards of regulation in the sports field. Students will work on actual cases and policy initiatives, and will benefit from guest seminars from a range of perspectives and disciplines. The Clinic will also engage in research-related activities on a regular basis, which will include compiling amicus briefs for clients as well as delivering information sessions to club sports organisations and their volunteers.